초록 ▼

The present invention is related to an apparatus for the sorting of particles in a fluid medium flowing within a liquid-core waveguide, by combining customized light intensity patterns formed inside the waveguide, and diluting the suspension of particles (i.e., cells, blood, nanoparticles, etc.) fl

The present invention is related to an apparatus for the sorting of particles in a fluid medium flowing within a liquid-core waveguide, by combining customized light intensity patterns formed inside the waveguide, and diluting the suspension of particles (i.e., cells, blood, nanoparticles, etc.) flowing within the fluid medium of the waveguide. With this customized light intensity pattern, which controls the optical forces introduced by the light confined within the waveguide, and the control of the hydrodynamic forces introduced by the liquid flow (or multiple channel liquid flows), the sorting of particles can be achieved.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for sorting particles comprising: a light source which emits a light beam; a flow structure through which said solution flows; and a diffractive optical element; wherein said diffractive optical element modulates said light beam and generates a custom light inten

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for sorting particles comprising: a light source which emits a light beam; a flow structure through which said solution flows; and a diffractive optical element; wherein said diffractive optical element modulates said light beam and generates a custom light intensity pattern in said flow structure; and wherein said solution contains particles and said particles are optically entrained and fractionated depending on a cross-sectional position of said particles in said flow structure. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said solution is blood. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an internal diameter of said flow structure is relatively larger than a wavelength of light in said flow structure in order to efficiently flow said solution through said flow structure. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flow structure is a doughnut-shaped eigenmode. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said eigenmode is a Bessel function. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a Bessel beam light intensity pattern is propagated through said flow structure; and wherein optical pressure directed down an optical axis of a central core of said flow structure, propels objects in said solution downstream along said central core. 7. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an imaging lens; and an axicon optical element through which said light beam is shone in a back focal plane of said imaging lens, to form said Bessel beam. 8. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an imaging lens; and an annular aperture disposed in a back focal plane of said imaging lens, through which said light beam is shone to form said Bessel beam. 9. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an imaging lens; wherein said light beam is shaped holographically by said diffractive optical element, to create an axicon hologram, which is relayed to a back aperture of said imaging lens, to form said Bessel beam. 10. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the Bessel beam forms a diffraction limited spot extended along an optical axis of said flow structure. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein particles in said solution which have a relatively higher refractive index are preferentially attracted to a doughnut region of said flow structure, and said particles with a relatively lower refractive index will remain in a central region of said flow structure. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: a collection output disposed downstream of said flow structure, which collects said particles in a plurality of collection portions. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said collection output includes at least a top output channel and a bottom output channel, and gravitation forces act upon particles in said solution to move said particles into said bottom output channel. 14. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a plurality of electrodes, wherein one of electric and magnetic fields applied by said electrodes act upon said flow structure to move particles in said solution into said collection portions. 15. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: means for forming a density gradient within said flow structure, such that fractionation of particles in said solution results from differential responses to light fields in combination with density. 16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said density gradient means fits into a centrifuge. 17. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said diffractive optical element is a spatial light modulator, and said spatial light modulator introduces at least one of a plurality of eigenmodes and a time varying series of eigenmodes into said flow structure, which creates a controlled time-dependent variation in a cross-sectional intensity profile of said flow structure. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said eigenmode that is introduced into said flow structure is modulated into a plurality of light intensity patterns resulting in an actively applied dynamic light distribution pattern. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said light intensity patterns can be varied in at least one of time and space. 20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said diffractive optical element is an axicon optical element. 21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said flow structure has one of a partially and a totally reflective inner surface, and a sub-wavelength roughness interior surface. 22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said flow structure is a cylinder, and said cylinder includes a reflective inner surface which allows said light beam to form and reform Bessel beams. 23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said reflective inner surface is provided by one of a mirror-finish on an inner surface of said cylinder, and a coating disposed on an inner surface of said cylinder. 24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said coating has an index of refraction which is less than that of an index of refraction of said solution flowing through the flow structure. 25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein sorting of particles in said solution is accomplished based on Q values of said particles. 26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein an interval of the Bessel beams being reformed may be tuned by modifying a radius of said light beam. 27. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said flow structure is a hollow core fiber optic. 28. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said particles are nanoparticles. 29. The apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising: a flow chip into which said solution with said particles is introduced, said flow chip having a plurality of output channels; wherein said flow structure is a waveguide including input holes in sides of said waveguide, said waveguide being disposed across said flow chip such that said solution from said flow chip flows through said waveguide. 30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein nanoparticles in said solution interact with said custom light pattern within said waveguide, and have their positions deflected, such that said particles flow out of said waveguide and are sorted into different of said output channels. 31. The apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising: a plurality of electrodes, wherein one of electric and magnetic fields applied by said electrodes act upon said flow structure to sort said nanoparticles. 32. The apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising: a flow chip into which said solution with said particles is introduced, said flow chip having a plurality of output channels; wherein said flow structure is a resonant cavity disposed across said flow chip such that said solution from said flow chip is sorted as it flows through said resonant cavity. 33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said resonant cavity includes a partially reflective end mirror at one end, and a reflective mirror at another end. 34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said resonant cavity includes a plurality of sub-wavelength sized holes on its surface through which said nanoparticles are sorted. 35. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said solution is introduced into said flow structure via nanoporous membranes at ends of said flow structure. 36. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising: a plurality of electrodes, wherein one of electric and magnetic fields applied by said electrodes act upon said flow structure to sort said nanoparticles. 37. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said flow chip includes sub-wavelength inputs. 38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein additional light fields are created in x and/or y directions in said resonant cavity, to tune a light field distribution in said resonant cavity. 39. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said resonant cavity includes reflective inner surfaces. 40. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said flow structure is a single mode optical fiber. 41. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said nanoparticles comprise at least one of organic particles, biological particles, and inorganic particles. 42. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said nanoparticles are exposed to said custom light intensity pattern within said flow structure, resulting in one of a diversion of a flow of said solution without fractionation, and continuation and outputting of said flow containing fractions that do no interact with one another. 43. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said diffractive optical element is a computer-controlled spatial light modulator for producing a spatially varying light distribution from said light beam, and sorting said nanoparticles based on differential optical entrainment. 44. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flow structure comprises a non-cylindrical symmetry. 45. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein only a portion of said solution is inputted through said flow structure. 46. An apparatus for sorting particles comprising: a light source which emits a light beam; a flow structure through which solution flows; and a diffractive optical element; wherein said diffractive optical element modulates said light beam and generates a custom light intensity pattern in said flow structure; and a coating disposed on an inner surface of said flow structure, said coating which has an index of refraction which is less than that of an index of refraction of the solution flowing through the flow structure. 47. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said coating is a reflective material which enables total internal reflection at the wavelengths used. 48. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein nic(λ)<nsolution(λ), where nic(λ) is said index of refraction of said coating, at wavelength λ, and where nsolution(λ) is a refractive index of the solution, nsolution(λ) at said wavelength λ. 49. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said diffractive optical element is a spatial light modulator, and coupling optics direct said light beam onto said spatial light modulator. 50. The apparatus according to claim 46, further comprising: a pumping mechanism which introduces said solution into said flow structure. 51. The apparatus according to claim 46, further comprising: a collection area including a plurality of output channels which collect particles in said solution. 52. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said output channels are sub-wavelength in size. 53. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said coating has an index of refraction 1.29-1.31. 54. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said solution is introduced into said flow structure from a reservoir. 55. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said solution is blood. 56. An apparatus for sorting particles comprising: a light source which emits a light beam; a flow structure through which said solution flows; and a diffractive optical element; wherein said diffractive optical element modulates said light beam and generates a custom light intensity pattern in said flow structure; and wherein an external portion of said flow structure is made of a material with an index of refraction lower than said solution flowing through said flow structure. 57. An apparatus for sorting particles, comprising: a light source which emits a light beam; a flow structure through which solution flows; and a diffractive optical element; wherein said diffractive optical element modulates said light beam and generates a custom light intensity pattern in said flow structure; and a central spot blocker which blocks out a 0th order beam from a surface of said diffractive optical element. 58. The apparatus according to claim 57 wherein said solution contains particles and said particles are optically entrained and fractionated depending on a cross-sectional position in said flow structure. 59. An apparatus for sorting particles in a solution comprising: a laser which emits a light beam; a flow structure through which solution flows, and into which said light beam is directed; and means for sorting objects in said solution; wherein said sorting means includes a diffractive optical element which allows said light beam to act differentially on each of the objects, causing a difference in Q factor, to allow the objects with a higher Q factor to be more optically entrained and sorted from objects with a lower Q factor based on their position in the flow structure. 60. An apparatus for sorting particles comprising: a light source which emits a light beam; a liquid core waveguide containing a solution having particles suspended therein; a central hollow portion through which said solution flows; wherein particles in said solution enter said central hollow portion and interact with predetermined high-intensity light fields from said light beam, said light fields which entrain said particles such that said particles are directed to predetermined target regions within said hollow portion and sorted based on their position in said central hollow portion. 61. An apparatus for sorting particles comprising: a laser and optical elements necessary for forming and projecting Bessel beam into said waveguide; and a flow structure having a central core with a central optical axis therein, said flow structure through which solution flows, and into which said Bessel beam light intensity pattern is propagated, said solution containing objects; wherein optical pressure directed down said optical axis of said central core of said flow structure, propels objects in said solution which are entrained by said Bessel beam light intensity pattern downstream along said central core of said flow structure, such that said objects are sorted from objects which are not entrained thereby. 62. An apparatus for sorting particles comprising: a light source which emits a light beam; a flow structure through which solution flows, and into which said modulated light beam is directed; and means for optically entraining particles within said solution, to allow said particles to be fractionated depending on their cross-sectional position. 63. A method of sorting objects comprising: directing a light beam from a light source to a diffractive optical element; directing said light beam from said diffractive optical element into a flow structure; generating a custom light intensity pattern in said flow structure using said diffractive optical element; flowing a solution with particles into said flow structure; and sorting said particles in said flow structure based on action of said custom light intensity pattern with said particles, to direct said particles into different target regions in said flow structure; optically entraining and fractionating said particles depending on a cross-sectional position of said particles in said flow structure. 64. The method according to claim 63, further comprising: outputting said particles into different output channels based on said sorting step. 65. The method according to claim 64, wherein said output channels are sub-wavelength in size. 66. The method according to claim 63, further comprising: forming a Bessel beam in said flow structure by utilizing a doughnut-shaped eigenmode. 67. The method according to claim 66, wherein said Bessel beam forms a diffraction limited spot extended along an optical axis of said flow structure. 68. The method according to claim 66, further comprising: separating said particles based on attraction of said particles to a doughnut-shaped region in said flow structure; wherein particles in said solution which have a relatively higher refractive index are preferentially attracted to said doughnut region of said flow structure, and said particles with a relatively lower refractive index will remain in a central region of said flow structure; and collecting said particles via a collection output downstream from said flow structure. 69. The method according to claim 68, further comprising: collecting said particles via a bottom output channel due to gravitational forces acting on said particles. 70. The method according to claim 66, further comprising: applying one of an electric and a magnetic field to said flow structure to sort said particles. 71. The method according to claim 66, wherein said eigenmode that is introduced into said flow structure is modulated into a plurality of light intensity patterns resulting in an actively applied dynamic light distribution pattern. 72. The method according to claim 71, wherein said light intensity patterns can be varied in at least one of time and space. 73. The method according to claim 66, wherein said light beam is shaped holographically by said diffractive optical element, to create an axicon hologram, which is relayed to a back aperture of said imaging lens, to form said Bessel beam. 74. The method according to claim 73, wherein said diffractive optical element is an axicon optical element. 75. The method according to claim 66, further comprising: forming a Bessel beam within said flow structure; and reforming said Bessel beam within said flow structure by reflecting said Bessel beam back towards an optical axis of said flow structure; and turning said Bessel beam by modifying at least a radius of a beam-guide. 76. The method according to claim 66, wherein said flow structure has one of a partially and a totally reflective inner surface, and a sub-wavelength roughness interior surface. 77. The method according to claim 66, wherein said flow structure is a cylinder, and said cylinder includes a reflective inner surface which allows said light beam to form and reform Bessel beams. 78. The method according to claim 66, further comprising: applying at least one of a mirror-finish and a coating to an inner surface of said flow structure, to provide a reflective inner surface on an inner surface of said cylinder. 79. The method according to claim 78, wherein said coating has an index of refraction which is less than that of an index of refraction of said solution flowing through the flow structure. 80. The method according to claim 63, wherein said solution is blood. 81. The method according to claim 80, wherein an internal diameter of said flow structure is relatively larger than a wavelength of light in said flow structure in order to efficiently flow said solution through said flow structure. 82. The method according to claim 63, wherein said diffractive optical element is a spatial light modulator, and coupling optics direct said light beam onto said spatial light modulator. 83. The method according to claim 63, further comprising: forming a density gradient within said flow structure, such that fractionation of particles in said solution results from differential responses to light fields in combination with density. 84. The method according to claim 63, wherein said diffractive optical element is a spatial light modulator, and said spatial light modulator introduces at least one of a plurality of eigenmodes and a time varying series of eigenmodes into said flow structure, which creates a controlled time-dependent variation in a cross-sectional intensity profile of said flow structure. 85. The method according to claim 63, wherein optical pressure directed down an optical axis of a central core of said flow structure, propels objects in said solution downstream along said central core. 86. The method according to claim 63, further comprising: sorting said particles in said solution based on Q factors of said particles. 87. The method according to claim 63, wherein said particles are nanoparticles. 88. The method according to claim 87, further comprising: flowing solution into a flow chip; disposing a waveguide across said flow chip; wherein said waveguide includes input holes in sides of said waveguide; wherein said solution from said flow chip flows through said waveguide. 89. The method according to claim 88, wherein said flow chip includes sub-wavelength inputs. 90. The method according to claim 87, wherein nanoparticles in said solution interact with said custom light pattern within said flow structure, and have their positions deflected, such that said particles flow out of said flow structure and are sorted into different of said output channels. 91. The method according to claim 87, wherein said flow structure is a resonant cavity which includes a partially reflective end mirror at one end, and a reflective mirror at another end. 92. The method according to claim 91, wherein said resonant cavity includes a plurality of sub-wavelength sized holes on its surface through which said nanoparticles are sorted. 93. The method according to claim 92, wherein additional light fields are created in x and/or y directions in said resonant cavity, to tune a light field distribution in said resonant cavity. 94. The method according to claim 92, wherein said resonant cavity includes reflective inner surfaces. 95. The method according to claim 87, wherein said nanoparticles comprise at least one of organic particles, biological particles, and inorganic particles. 96. The method according to claim 63, wherein said solution is introduced into said flow structure via nanoporous membranes at ends of said flow structure. 97. The method according to claim 63, wherein said flow structure comprises a non-cylindrical symmetry. 98. The method according to claim 63, wherein only a portion of said solution is inputted through said flow structure. 99. A method of sorting objects comprising: directing a light beam from a light source to a diffractive optical element; directing said light beam from said diffractive optical element into a flow structure; generating a custom light intensity pattern in said flow structure using said diffractive optical element; flowing a solution with particles into said flow structure; and sorting said particles in said flow structure based on action of said custom light intensity pattern with said particles, to direct said particles into different target regions in said flow structure; wherein an external portion of said flow structure is made of a material with an index of refraction lower than said solution flowing through said flow structure. 100. A method of sorting objects comprising: directing a light beam from a light source to a diffractive optical element; directing said light beam from said diffractive optical element into a flow structure; generating a custom light intensity pattern in said flow structure using said diffractive optical element; flowing a solution with particles into said flow structure; and sorting said particles in said flow structure based on action of said custom light intensity pattern with said particles, to direct said particles into different target regions in said flow structure; wherein said flow structure is a hollow core fiber optic. 101. The method according to claim 100, wherein said flow structure is a single mode optical fiber.